Liberty coach Chad Landis told his post players, Andy Hudak and Tony Miller, that if they wanted to score this season, they'd have to learn to pass the ball to each other.

In the first half of Tuesday night's Eastern Pennsylvania Conference game, they took turns retrieving teammates' missed shots and finishing at the rim.

The two then fed each other in the second half with high-low action, skip passes and slick feeds in the paint to keep Nazareth at bay.

Hudak and Miller each posted a double-double and combined for 29 points and 22 rebounds in Liberty's 73-58 victory at Raymond J. Nunamaker Gymnasium.

Playing their third consecutive game without starting guard Jeremy Johnson (team discipline), the Hurricanes (7-2 overall, 7-0 EPC) never trailed as Miller had three consecutive put-backs in the game's first few minutes.

Hudak followed with his first offensive rebound basket and Liberty built a double-digit lead late in the first quarter.

"One of the best ways, if the shots aren't going in, is to fly in and get [the rebounds]," Landis said. "We emphasized that to our kids and they did an awesome job."

Liberty led by 14 points twice in the first half and 13 late in the third quarter, but Nazareth (7-5, 2-5) never went away.

Brett Kline, who scored a game-high 22 points, drove for a deuce to get the Eagles within 53-47 with 6 minutes, 27 seconds left.

Nazareth got the ball back, but missed a layup on its next possession.

"That was a crucial part of the game," Nazareth coach Joe Arndt said.

After two Hudak free throws, the Eagles missed an open 3-pointer and never seriously threatened again as the Hurricanes made 18 free throws in the game's last five-plus minutes.

"We've been on both ends," Landis said of his team's free-throw shooting. "We had a couple of really good games and we've had a couple of questionable ones."

Liberty made 27 of 35 for the game, but got Nazareth in foul mode because of the Hurricanes' aggressiveness in going to the basket and attacking the offensive glass.

And it wasn't just Miller and Hudak. Trent Bishop turned an offensive rebound into a three-point play to restore the Hurricanes' double-digit lead in the third quarter.

"There was one possession in the third quarter when it was a six- or eight-point game and [Liberty] had at least six or seven opportunities when we just didn't rebound," Arndt said. "We have to get contact.

"We have to find five white shirts who are going to rebound to get us moving."

Five of Liberty's seven first-quarter baskets were on second-chance opportunities.

Nazareth also hurt itself with 7-for-20 shooting and 11 turnovers in the first half (15 total).

"The kids' effort in the second half wasn't lacking," Arndt said. "If we come out like that in the first half, it would have been a different story. It could have been a different outcome.

"We looked tense early on, played a little scared at times. They have played with each other for many years. They have to relax."

Landis, meanwhile, is happy with Liberty's progress from early in the season. He said his team is playing well together, sharing the ball and playing smarter.

That was evident Tuesday with his post players.

"They were more patient," he said. "They found cutters. They found each other. Early in the year, they threw some questionable passes.

"What I love is the fact that this year we've been balanced in a lot of games. Different guys are stepping up and scoring."

Bishop finished with 15 points for Liberty.

Landis said there is no timetable for Johnson's return to the lineup, but said he'll eventually be back. For now, he likes what his guards are giving him.

"Alex Serrano is a freshman we think the world of," the Liberty coach said. "He's getting more minutes and playing great."